Founded in 1972, Foster and Adoptive Family Services (FAFS) is a state-wide grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the special needs of foster and adoptive families and advocating for improved foster care services. FAFS is headquartered in Monmouth Junction, NJ and has 22 County Volunteer Committees, one in each county and two in Essex. FAFS currently receives funding through the NJ Department of Children and Families to provide services to more than 5,000 foster and adoptive families who provide a safety net for children removed from their biological families due to abuse and neglect. Some of the contract services FAFS provides include support services, training, and state funded scholarships. FAFS has identified gaps in services to children in foster care and has developed programs to meet these gaps. Since we receive no government funding for these programs it has become essential for us to partner with charitable organizations such as the NJSFWC Junior Membership to meet these needs. FAFS wants to partner with you… together we are stronger and our children benefit. Backpack Program- Bridging the gap between safety and dignity The goal of this program is to provide each child coming into foster care with a backpack that contains special items that help make the removal less traumatic. The ways in which you can help are to collect backpacks and other items to fill them ordistribute backpacks to County Volunteer Committees.
Private Scholarship Program- Bridging the gap between hope and a future The goal of this program is to provide scholarships for youth aging out of foster care, and those adopted from foster care, for academic pursuits as well as independent living.The overriding goal of the scholarship program is to assist these young people with a smooth transition to adulthood. The ways in which you can help are to contribute funds to FAFS’ existing founder’s scholarships or establish and raise funds for a scholarship in the name of the Junior Membership of the NJSFWC or to serve on FAFS Selections Committee to choose award winners. Fostering Wishes for Children Program- Bridging the gap between dreams and possibilities The goal of this program is to provide children in foster care with opportunities that are otherwise unavailable for them through $75 mini-grants that are awarded annually. You can help by providing financial support to enable FAFS to grant as many wishes as possible. A Gift for Every Child Holiday Initiative- Bridging the gap between loneliness and holiday cheer The goal of the program is to provide every child in foster care in New Jersey with a gift during the holiday season. You can help by conducting fundraisers or collect new toys for our children and providing volunteer assistance at holiday parties throughout the state. Campership Program- Bridging the gap between old and new experiences The goal of this program is to provide children in foster care with an enriching week-long sleep away camp experience that enhances self-esteem, positive social interaction, team-building skills and allows sibling groups an opportunity to spend time together. You can help by assisting FAFS in expanding the program to include more camps across the state and raising funds to provide more children with camp scholarships. Bedtime for Children in Care Literacy Initiative- Bridging the gap between literacy and education This program is designed to promote literacy for children in care by providing gift bags that contain pajamas, slippers and new books for bedtime reading. You can help by collecting items for the bags and assembling them for distribution or attend events and distribute bags. A Walk to Celebrate Children- Bridging the gap between ignorance and knowledge This program is designed to increase the public’s awareness of children in foster care and to raise funds to support FAFS’ programs. You can help by assisting FAFS in the planning and organizing process and by participating in the walk. Foster and Adoptive Family Services is honored to be a finalist in consideration for the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs Junior Membership 2008-2010 State Project. For more information on FAFS and these programs, please visit our website at www.fafsonline.org or call 1.800.222.0047.
2006 - 2008 STATE PROJECT 2 Year Totals over $131,000!!!! Congratulations to ALL the Clubs!!
DROP OFF INFORMATION: Please contact the site before dropping items off if you want to drop them off yourself. You can also give items to your DA for delivery.
**IMPORTANT****New information for Clubs:
We are changing the way clubs book speakers in order to streamline communications. Clubs can contact CSHF directly by e-mailing Theresa Valentino, Director of Development, at tvalentino@childrens-specialized.org.
Also, wishlist items collected can be sent to New Brunswick via your DA or other Board Members, or you can deliver themselves. If you deliver yourself, please e-mail StateProject@JerseyJuniors.com to let her know. CSHF has requested that only NEW items be donated for the wishlist from this point on. They were very appreciative of the donations to date but were not able to use some items.
BE A HOSPITAL HERO…Challenges! Lemonade Stand–Sell cups of Lemonade at a community event, school, store, church or be creative and come up with some new.
“Re-Gifting” Auction– Donate those things that you received as a gift and just never used. Hold an auction for them and raise money at the same time.
Home Vendor Show –Join forces with local Home Vendors! Have a vendor night and charge for space or ask them to donate their proceeds.
Coin Collection –Create coin canisters and set them up throughout town. Or, hold a coin drive in a public place.
Bake Sale – Who could pass up a table of home made Juniors Goodies?
Tax Collection – Create a tax sheet for your club members (driving a mini van etc). Or, tax family or friends for things like “leaving your clothes on the floor”
CSHF Wish Tree – Put up a Christmas Tree in a Bank or other highly traveled public location. Use the CSHF Wish list to write out tags for the tree. Collect the items and donate them to CSH!
A-Thon Contest – What does your club like to do? Walk, Run, Bike, Dance, Rock, Jump? Why not raise some money for State Project doing it.
Shopping Days – When available, purchase a shopping day coupon and raise money for CSHF while enjoying savings while you shop!
The Junior Membership 2006-08 State Project is the Children’s SpecializedHospitalFoundation. Children’s Specialized Hospital is the largest pediatric hospital in the United States. It’s highly skilled staff members treat infants, children, and young adults from birth to 21 years of age through a network of programs including outpatient services, acute rehabilitation and long term care. The Junior Membership will work toward funding a Parent Resource Center at Children’s Specialized Hospital’s newest site which will be in New Brunswick, next to the Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center. The average stay of a family with a child receiving treatment is two months. The Family Resource Center would provide families with a much needed place to relax and be together, and unwind during a stressful time. This project would give the Junior Membership a chance to truly be a hero to families when they need it most. Want to hear more? To have a speaker from CSHF come to your club meeting or event, contact the Junior Membership State Project Chair at stateproject@jerseyjuniors.com. Need some fundraising ideas? Try a golf tournament, craft fair, indoor miniature golf tournament, theme party, theme auction; or get your local school involved with a read, math, dance, or walk-a-thon. How about some great related activities? Promote safety with a bike rodeo! CSHF can provide you with a guide on how to host this fun event that could attract potential new members for your club.
Is your club more into donating and collecting? The Family Resource center will need new or gently used books, DVDs, CDs and video games. ( Please, no teen or mature rated games, or CDs with parent advisory labels). There is also a need for new socks, underwear, and clothing for children and teens, since stays at the facility can be sudden and longer than expected.
Wish list for Children's Specialized Hospital
Northern Clubs (for Mountainside facility) DVDs & CDs
Sweats for children ages 0-21 yrs. old
Black felt & marker coloring sets
Socks & Underwear
Gift cards to stores: Toys R Us, Target, Macy’s, Kohl’s, etc.
Phone Cards
Baby wipes
Infant and toddler spoons
Scoop dishes to promote self feeding, sippy cups
Parent training videos on a variety of topics
Central Clubs (for Fanwood Plaza and Roselle Park facility) Play doh
Bubbles
Medical kits (child’s)
24-piece puzzles (especially with favorite current cartoons)
Colorforms (especially with favorite current cartoons)
Board games for young teens: Stratego, Don’t Wake Daddy, Battleship, Blokus, Othello, 20 questions – handheld version
60-piece and 100-piece puzzles as well
Other Board games: Sorry, Trouble, Don’t Break the Ice, Mastermind, Connect Four, etc.
Playschool Dollhouse furniture
Gift Cards to stores: Toys R Us, Target, Macy’s, Kohl’s, etc.
Southern Clubs (for Hamilton facility) Simple books/board books
Toddler toys: blocks, sorters, puzzles, bead, peg boards, etc.
Arts and crafts: paper, crayons, markers, craft projects
CDs for kids
Developmental baby toys
Board games
Little people play sets: farm house, cars, airports
Plastic dollhouse and families
Toys R Us gift cards
Parent training videos on a variety of parenting topics
Dolls of various racial diversity
Color markers for the white board
Franklin (the turtle) books: Franklin in the Dark, Hurry up Franklin, Franklin is Bossy, Franklin is Messy, Franklin's Bad Day, Franklin's New Friend
PROJECT IDEAS:
Hospital Heroes…
Lemonade Stand
“Re-gifting” Auction
Home Vendor
Coin Collection
Bake Sale
Tax Collection
CSHF Wish Tree
A-Thon Contest
Macys/Bloomingdale’s Shopping Days
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Johnson Park, River Road, Piscataway, NJ
9:00 a.m. Rain or shine
SCHEDULE
9:00 am - Check-in
10:00 am - Walk n' Roll start
11:30 am - Celebration!
COURSE
1, 2.5, or 5 miles on flat course, wheelchair accessible with water along the way.
JOHNSON PARK
With picnic groves, 3 playgrounds, an animal haven, numerous sports fields, and views of the Raritan River, beautiful Johnson Park in Piscataway, NJ is a perfect place to spend Walk n' Roll day with your family and friends!
WHO BENEFITS?
Children's Specialized Hospital is the largest pediatric rehabilitation center in the nation, serving over 15,000 children with special needs each year. Funds raised through the Walk n' Roll will help build the new PSE&G Children's Specialized Hospital, opening in New Brunswick in early 2008. PSE&G Children's Specialized Hospital will be the tenth center in the Children's Specialized system, joining sites in Mountainside, Fanwood, Hamilton, Newark, Roselle Park, and Toms River. The completion of the new hospital will create the first comprehensive pediatric healthcare campus in New Jersey, with acute care, rehabilitation, and research in one location. PSE&G Children's Specialized Hospital will provide services for children with brain and spinal cord injuries, and for babies and toddlers needing special infant care. Your participation helps secure a $1 million challenge grant from The Kresge Foundation toward this extraordinary project.
So lace up your sneakers and come join us Walk n' Roll!
